Why's That?

Why's That? explores the things in Southwest Michigan – people, places, names – that spark your curiosity. We want to know what makes you wonder when you're out and about.

Maybe it's a question you've had for years, or maybe it's just come up. Perhaps it rests on a subtle observation, like this one about ABC streets in Kalamazoo. Or maybe you just saw something, found it strange, and wanted to know more about it. That's what happened in "A Tiny Park with a Tragic Story."

Mark Kole was traveling a few years ago when he noticed something strange. “I went on vacation to Boston," he says. "And looking at the map I see alphabetical streets and I’m thinking, okay, I know these streets." He knew them because they had the same names, and ran in the same order, as four streets in Kalamazoo Township.

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5:18

"Why's That?" reports on four streets in Kalamazoo Township with doppelgangers in Boston

If you’ve followed the path of Arcadia Creek, you know it disappears for a while near Western Michigan University’s campus. You might have also noticed that Waldo Stadium is near the point where the creek moves underground. Listener Carl Doubleday wondered: does the creek run under Waldo Stadium?

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5:36

WMUK answers the question: Does Arcadia Creek run under Waldo Stadium?

WMUK's "Why's That?" reports on Stephen Douglas, Frederick Douglass and local history.

Each month, WMUK’s “Why’s That?” delves into a question you send us and tries to find an answer. You can submit your idea here. September’s story is about names – two of them, well-known in Kalamazoo and nationally, and how they might be connected.

Mike Hoag of Kalamazoo sent us the following question:

So, you ever notice that DouglaS Ave has one "S" while the Douglass Community Association has two? Why's that?